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The Australian decisive move to restrict social media access for those under 16 is sending ripples worldwide. Officials, campaigners, and families are monitoring with great interest to see if this strategy will inspire imitation for other nations.

European Movement

Throughout Europe, a growing number of countries are moving toward comparable restrictions.

• The Danish government has stated a restriction on social media for youth below 15, with the leader declaring that mobile devices and platforms are "taking away our kids' youth". The policy may be passed soon.
• Norway is planning to introduce a access barrier of 15, pointing to the need to safeguard children from the "power of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is developing a digital wallet to confirm the identity and age of social media users. Officials have suggested that an similar ban could be "one of the measures on the table".
• In The Spanish government, the prime minister has asked lawmakers to approve a bill increasing the access age for using social media to 16.
• In The French government, the leader has threatened a ban for under-15s, and a legislative committee has endorsed a similar action, potentially involving an overnight "digital curfew" for older teenagers.
• The authorities in The Netherlands has recommended families to block their children from social media until 15.

At the EU level, the European parliament has passed a symbolic motion demanding a ban for under-16s except if guardian approval is granted. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" nature of these services, the step does not create mandatory rules.

"An effective age limit is a good starting point," stated the European lawmaker driving the measure.

The UK: An Evidence-Based Stance

In the UK, the leadership has remained open to a potential ban, emphasizing that "nothing is off the table" but maintaining any decision must be "based on conclusive evidence".

Earlier, support grew behind a proposal to impose restrictions on social media use by under-16s, but it was in the end modified. Nonetheless, the administration vowed to conduct more studies the matter.

Charities have voiced apprehensions. A prominent charity established by the loved ones of a teenager who was lost after being exposed to dangerous social media material contends that a blanket age ban might not make platforms safer and could create a "dangerous transition" of risk when young people reach the legal age.

"This ban is a response to the refusal of the Silicon Valley to build products and services that are safe and suitable for children," said a leading online safety campaigner.

The United States: A Decentralized Picture

Stateside, action is mostly unfolding at the local government level amid federal inaction.

• Utah demands guardian permission for those under 18 to use social media and controls late-night use.
• Florida has enacted a law prohibiting those below 14 from creating accounts on social media, though it faces constitutional disputes.
• Virginia has approved a regulation capping teenagers to 60 minutes of social media use per day, with any further access requiring a guardian's okay.
• Georgia, The state of Tennessee, and Louisiana have similarly enacted bills mandating parental consent for teenagers to open social media profiles.

Despite bipartisan support and proposals from some individuals to copy Australia's example, a federal ban is currently seen as unlikely.

Worldwide Outlook

Outside of the West, further nations are similarly considering moves.

• Malaysia plans to prohibit social media for teenagers effective next year.
• The Brazilian authorities has lifted the required age for the platform Instagram to 16.

Yet, international organizations strike a more nuanced position. Unicef has warned that social media bans carry risks and "could have unintended consequences". The agency points out that the internet can be a "critical link" for vulnerable young people and that government action should not be a "replacement" for social media firms to improve user protection.

Even as this worldwide debate unfolds, the policies of the Australian government and several other countries indicate that policymakers internationally are increasingly prepared to stand by for tech companies to self-regulate.